Equipment
Early style hood badge, side outlet exhaust, grille and trunk guards, hood scoop, modified rear flares, chrome wire wheels, non stock side vents, non matching numbers 289 engine. Part of the Ford Custom Caravan, invoiced to Jacques Passino, head of Fords racing operations, then later to an owner who kept the car for 40 years. Good new paint and straight bodywork. Chassis and interior clean and reasonably detailed. Lot includes a correct date coded 260 block. An attractive Cobra with an intriguing story.
Market commentary
Where were bidders on this one While bidders pushed a later production 289 to a dizzying $871,200, this car quietly rolled across the stage for nearly $300,000 less. It is an earlier car with an unoriginal 289 engine, but it comes with a fantastic history that accounts for its current specification. One person in the know at the auction suggested the Cobra had traveled as many as 250,000 miles under a succession of Ford press uses, Ford executives and a long term enthusiastic owner. This car is a thoroughly researched history away from a higher sales price.